Electric switch.



No. 764,505. PATENTBD JULY 5, 1904.

J. L. STEEB. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

54 26 r57 A65 3' Grauflcl Witnesses: 972507;. 9 .fa/mz. 5.5866 f 13y fig UNITED STATES Patented July 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFIC TO WILLIAM M. (JARNAHAN AND FRANK BURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

M. IVIEGOGNEY, OF PITTS- ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,505, dated July 5, 1904. Application filed September 29, 1903. Serial No. 175,019. (No model.)

To a whom zit may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. S'rnnn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Butler, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electric switches, and is particularly adapted for use in connection with the operation of electrically-operated railways. I

The present invention is an improvement on the type of switch described and claimed in Patent No. 737,478, granted to me May 5, 1903.

While the present invention relates to a switch-operating device of the type shown in my prior patent above referred to, the device shown in the present application is more particularly adapted for use in connection with elevated or surface roads, in which the crossties are left uncovered, though it is by no means confined to this use, but may be readily adapted for use in connection with street-railways, if so desired.

As in my prior patent, the main object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the motorman or other person in charge of the car may conveniently operate the switch to move the switch-tongue so as to pass the car onto the desired track without necessitating the dismounting ofthe operator from the car or without stopping the car, if so desired, on approaching the switch.

Briefly described, the present invention consists of arranging a solenoid-magnet at the side of the track adjacent to the switch-tongue and connecting the core of the magnet to the switch tongue or tongues. The solenoid-magnot is designed to perform the function of two separate solenoid magnets; but in my improved construction I employ a single core with two air-matures, providing means when one solenoid is energized to attract its armature for preventing the magnetism passing through that portion of the core to. the other armature of the solenoid. I also provide '5 locking means comprising a solenoid having its core connected to a spring-pressed lockingrod which is adapted to engage with the core of the actuating solenoid-magnets, whereby to lock the switch in the position in which it has been placed. Means is provided for completing an electric circuit from the currentwire to the actuating solenoid-magnets for operating the switch tongue or tongues, as desired.

All of the above construction will be hereinafter more fully described and specifically pointed out in the claims, and in describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of 5 this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of the actuating solenoid-magnet and locking 7 mechanism. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the track, showing the circuit with the auxiliary switch on the track with the contacts arranged in the track. Fig. 3 is a sectional View of one of the contacts shown adapted to be arranged in the track, showing one of the contacts carried by the car. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view of the circuit of the device in position.

My present improvement, as stated, resides largely in the construction of the actuating solenoid-magnets and the means for locking the switch in the desired position. The actuating solenoid-magnets are arranged in a casing or cylinder 1, which may be conveniently 5 made by casting and has its end 2 detachably secured tothe flanged end of the casing or cylinder, whereby to permit the ready insertion of the solenoid-magnet and the removal of the same. The actuating solenoid-mag- 9 nets 3 L are connected together by a hollow iron core 5, engaged into the core heads or extensions 6 7, each of which is provided with the lugs 8 on its outer face to receive the blow of the respective armatures. The hollow iron core 5 is divided into two sections,

one for each of the solenoids, this being accomplished by means of the interposed sleeve 9, composed of brass or other like material, which will break the magnetic continuity. This sleeve is placed within the dividing-partition between the solenoids 3 and 4. The core 11 extends through both sections of the hollow iron core 5 and has on its free end the armature 12 and'also carries thereon between the core head or extension 6 and the end of the cylinder an armature 14. This core 11 is also separated into two sections connected together by a brass piece 15, threaded or otherwise suitably connected to the ends of the sections, whereby to interrupt the magnetic continuity of the core and substantially preventing the magnetism from passing from the portion of the core in one solenoid to the portion of the core in the other solenoid. The core works in the extension 16, carried by the cylinder-head, which may be provided with a suitable stuffing-box 17 as shown, this core having arranged therein notches or seats 18 19 to be engaged by the locking-rod, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The cylinder 1 is preferably provided on its one face near the inner end with one or more projections 20, against which the core head or extension 6 will abut, so as to properly position the solenoids within the casing or cylinder, the said solenoid being insulated from the cylinder by a wrapping 21 of any suitable insulation. The core 11 is in the present illustration shown connected with the switch-tongues 22 23; but it will be evident that in many types of switches it is necessary to connect to but one of the switch-tongues. Carried on the side of the casing or cylinder 1 is a casing or cylinder 24, which may be cast integral with the cylinder 1, providing the latter be cast, and which has its one head, 25, detachably secured, whereby the solenoid 26 may be readily placed in position and removed. This solenoid 26 has ahollow iron core 27, in which the core 28 works, said core extending through the stuffing-box 29 and having its outer end pivotally connected to one arm of the bellcrank 30. This bell-crank 30 is pivotally secured to the bracket 31, carried by the casing or cylinder 1, and has pivotally connected to its other arm a locking-rod 32, which engages through the extension 16 and is adapted to engage with the notches 18 19, respectively, according to the position of the core 11. The core 26 has arranged thereon between the stuffingbox 29 and the collar 33 a spring 34, which operates to force the operating-rod 32 into engagement with the core 11. The actuating solenoidmagnets in case of elevated roads'or in case of surface roads in which the cross-ties are left uncovered are placed at the side of the track, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and arranged in the bed of the track, between the rails thereof, are insulated contact-blocks 35 36, preferably composed of carbon and which may be conveniently held in position by means of the shouldered or flanged plate 37, as seen in cross-section in Fig. 3. One of the flanges of said plate serves to hold the block in position and the other flange forming a means for fastening the plate to the cross-ties. These contact-plates are adapted to be engaged by the spring contacting shoes 38 39, attached to a suitable part of the car-truck 40*such, for instance, as the fender-bar 41 usually found on the truck of street-cars.

In order to prevent the sweating of the solenoid-magnets, I provide the air-vent 42, which communicates with the end of the cylinder or casing 1 through the head 2 in anydesired manner. In order to provide means for the motorman or car attendant to make the desired circuit, I provide on the car a twopointed switch 43, and in order that the cir cuits may be closed from the street in event of a failure of switch 43 to operate on the car I provide on the side of the track adjacent to the switch a two-pointed switch 44.

The circuit is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which 45 indicates the generator, 46 the wire leading therefrom to the ground, 47 the wire leading to the current-wire 48. 49 indicates the wire leading from the current-wire to the two-pointed switch 4350 51, respec-' tively, indicating the wires leading to contactshoes 38 39. The circuit-wire 52 connects the two-pointed switch 44 with current-wire 48. The solenoids 3 and 4 are connected with contacts 35 36 by circuit-wires 53 54 and 55 56, respectively. The locking solenoid 26 is common to both the solenoids 3 and 4, and circuit-wire 57 leading from solenoid 26 to the ground. Wires 58 and 59 connect the contacts 35 36 to the two-point switch 44. In the position shown in the drawings the switch is shown open, in which position it shall move by the engagement of contact-shoe 39 with the contact 36, the knife of the two-point switch 43 having been moved to make the desired circuit. hen shoe 39 engages with contact 36, circuit is made through the solenoid 3, so as to energize the same, drawing armature 12 toward the core head or extension. The energizing of solenoid 3 energizes solenoid 26, whereby to cause its core, 28 to withdraw the tongue 22 from engagement with the notch 19 and allow said locking-rod to drop into notch 18, as seen in Fig. 1, which it will do owing to the action of the spring 34 as soon as the contact between spring-shoe 39 and block 36 is broken. Should contact-spring 38 be engaged with shoe 37 circuit would be made through solenoid 4 whereby to energize thesame to draw the armature 14 toward the core head or extension 6. To make this circuit, the knife of the two-pointed switch 43 would be moved to the opposite contact. If in any event the car mechanism should be out of order, the street-switch may be readily operated by moving two-pointed switch 44 so as to make either of the desired circuits.

While I have herein shown and described my invention as practiced by me, yet it will be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction Without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the switch-tongue, of a casing or cylinder, a pair of solenoid-magnets arranged in said casing or cylinder, a core common to both solenoids and connected to the switch-tongue, separate armatures carried by the core for each solenoid, electrical means for locking the core to hold the switch-tongue in the desired position, contacts arranged in the track, electrical connections between said contacts and the solenoids, and means carried by the car for completing an electricalcircuit to either-of the solenoids to actuate the switchtongue.

2. The combination with the switch-tongue, of a casing or cylinder, a pair of solenoid-magnets arranged in said casing or cylinder and inrod pivotally connected to the core of the locking-solenoid and adapted to engage with the core of the actuating solenoid-magnets, contacts arranged in the track, and means on the car for completing a circuit through the contacts to one or the other of the actuating so lenoid-magnets.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L, STEEB. Witnesses:

A. M. WVILsoN, E. E. POTTER. 

